THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Dhanbad, April 1: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, along with IIT Kharagpur, IIT (BHU), IIT Bhubaneswar, and IIT Patna, will host the fourth edition of IInvenTiv 2026, the flagship R&D fair of the Ministry of Education, on April 6–7 at its campus in Jharkhand.
The two-day event will bring together academic institutions, innovators, startups, venture capitalists, industry leaders, and students to showcase cutting-edge research and technology innovations from India’s higher education ecosystem.
National platform for innovation and collaboration
Launched in 2022 at IIT Delhi during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, IInvenTiv aims to promote indigenous innovation and strengthen the research-to-market ecosystem.
Initially focused on IITs, the platform now includes IISc, IISERs, NITs, IIMs, IIEST, and other top NIRF-ranked institutes, creating a strong link between academia, industry, and startups.
150+ innovations, focus on emerging technologies
This year, over 235 innovation entries from 37 institutes have been received. Around 151 innovations and startups have been shortlisted for live demonstrations, along with 46 incubated startups from IITs and Technology Innovation Hubs.
Key focus areas include healthcare, artificial intelligence and machine learning, materials science, earth sciences, and semiconductor and chip technology.
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The event will feature startup pitching sessions, VC matchmaking, one-to-one interactions, and technology demonstration zones, with opportunities for funding, technology transfer, and commercialisation. Several MoUs are also expected to be signed.
Dignitaries, participation and industry connect
The inaugural ceremony is expected to be attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as Chief Guest, with Wadhwani Foundation CEO Ajay Kela as Guest of Honour.
The event is likely to see participation from over 1,000 delegates, including researchers, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, investors, and students.
IIT (ISM) Director Prof. Sukumar Mishra said the event reflects India’s growing innovation ecosystem and provides a platform to showcase transformative technologies.
Dean (R&D) and Convenor Parthasarathi Das highlighted the role of IInvenTiv in connecting researchers, industry, and investors, while Organising Secretary Ejaz Ahmad emphasised opportunities for industry–academia collaboration and on-the-spot funding discussions.
The initiative aims to promote entrepreneurship, startup creation, skill development, and economic growth, reinforcing India’s shift towards an innovation-driven economy.